Eadie has the last laugh for Hartpury

By LUKE JARMYN

Hartpury…………………….. 57pts

Tries: Short 4, 14; Morgan 9, Austin 30, 42; Eadie 51, 62; Hunt 74

Conversions: Bazalgette 5, 15, 31, 43, 52, 63, 75

Penalties: Bazalgette 40

Caldy ………………………….. 36pts

Tries: Royle 7, Hearn 20, Wilkinson 24, Robinson 55, Weatherby 68, Wynn 77

Conversions: Barker 25, Kilcourse 69, 78

Dart: No.9 Mike Austin on his way to the line

MITCH Eadie went from sinner to saint in a double try-scoring display as Hartpury won in style to keep their hopes alive of finishing the season in the tophalf of the Championship table.

Openside Harry Short also scored a brace as Hartpury utilised their forward dominance to score eight tries in an enthralling endto-end clash at the university stadium.

It continues the side’s winning streak over struggling Caldy – who haven’t won for three months and are at risk of finishing at the league’s basement.

Man of the match, Hartpury No.8 Eadie said: “We’re pleased with the win, but there’s still some yo-yoing when it comes to our games, we need to find consistency and hopefully can continue this form. We strive to play expansive rugby with confidence, and this result will really bring that confidence we need for the coming weeks.”

With the sun beaming in Gloucestershire, it took Hartpury barely four minutes to utilise their pack and Short peeled off a driving maul, after a quick lineout move, to score between the posts.

England 7s veteran Nic Royle intercepted to run in Caldy’s first try from 50 metres, but within a minute the home side countered, scrum-half Mike Austin causing chaos and setting up wing Alex Morgan who dashed over the try line.

Short scored in similar fashion to his first on the 14th minute down the left. But Eadie saw yellow for tackling off the ball and Caldy pounced with two tries in five minutes.

Man of the match: Mitch Eadie on the attack for Hartpury

PICTURES: Josh Thomas

Hooker Ollie Hearn peeled off a driving maul to score, before fly-half Lewis Barker broke through the red shirts to set up centre Connor Wilkinson and make it 19-17. With Eadie back just before the half-hour mark, the West Country side scored 24 unanswered points in 21 minutes. Austin scored the bonus point try from a quick tap penalty, before fly-half Harry Bazalgette’s kicked a penalty kick just before halftime.

Morgan produced a bit of egg-footballing brilliance to set up Austin’s second try, and a Bazalgette’s cross-field kick caused chaos in Caldy’s ranks, allowing Eadie to cut a beautiful line and slide over.

Wing Will Robinson finished a quick Caldy lineout move for the Cheshire side’s bonus-point try, then just after the hour-mark Eadie muscled over.

Caldy prop Monty Weatherby scored from a quick re-start, and in the final minutes Hartpury hooker Ethan Hunt peeled from a lineout to score before Caldy scrum-half Ollie Wynn dodged several tacklers to slide over.

Caldy coach Richard Vasey said: “The error count was too high which led to pressure being put on us. That’s ultimately why we lost by the amount we did.”